Lead Intake Counselor Behavioral Health

Department:

36642 Aurora St. Lukes South Shore - Intake Center

Status:

Full time

Benefits Eligible:

Yes

Hours Per Week:

40

Schedule Details/Additional Information:

Requires travel between sites and some weekend coverage, hours will vary

Major Responsibilities:

• Provides work direction to the clinical and support staff with responsibility for the coordination of resources to efficiently support procedures, day-to-day operations and the smooth flow of patients through the department.
• Acts as a resource to employees, which includes training/orientating, providing day-to-day work direction, and giving input on performance. Assigns, monitors, and reviews progress and accuracy of work, directs efforts and provides guidance on more complex issues in collaboration with the unit leadership.
• Assists with human resource responsibilities, which may include: interviewing and selection of new employees, resolution of employee concerns, and employee moral or other duties as assigned in collaboration with unit leadership.
• Monitors employee assignments; maintains staff scheduling, evaluates staffing levels and makes adjustments as necessary to maintain productivity level established in assigned area(s).
• Conducts initial intake assessments for the determination of Behavioral Health patient level of care placement in collaboration with emergency departments, psychiatry, and acute care units. Collaborates with psychiatry to recommend appropriate level of care to attending physicians and community based referral sources.
• Assists with crisis intervention and intervenes in emergencies utilizing proper procedures, therapeutic counseling and de-escalation skills. Maintains patient safety by collaborating with loss prevention, hospital physicians, and caregivers. Provides collaboration with local police departments and rescue services. Contributes to the development of emergency department communication information when appropriate. Secures appropriate Releases of Information and facilitates collaboration with community agencies and providers to promote continuity of care.
• Triages requests for services by phone, in person, or through telepsychiatry. Answer incoming calls regarding admissions, referrals, community resources or general information related to clinical programming and ABHS inpatient or outpatient services. Schedules, transfers and refers patients for clinical assessment as needed or requested. Refers to resources available throughout ABHS or community-based resources.
• Verifies patient’s insurance to ensure accurate benefits and appropriate referral to providers for services. Completes pre-authorization requirements and documents authorizations received in the electronic medical record. Explains and assists the patient in understanding their insurance benefits when information is available. Collaborates with Case Management to ensure authorizations are complete and accurate.
• Documents in the electronic medical records, obtaining detailed and thorough information. Completes accurate and timely assessments of patients as reflected in documentation, with particular emphasis on patient safety and risk factors. Documentation responsibilities include assessment, crisis treatment plans, and discharge recommendations. Identifies discharge planning by documenting aftercare needs. Accurately completes all documentation responsibilities as outlined in department/service area procedures within established time lines. Communicates needs to case management /social work caregivers through phone contact, electronically and in chart documentation while adhering to department protocols/policies.
  
  Provides consultation/assessment services to acute care units, or other areas as assigned, providing consultation on complex patient needs and safety issues upon request. Assesses urgent care needs of patients, provide crisis counseling, individual assessments, and obtain appropriate authorizations. Acts as a liaison to referral sources, therapists, physicians, other caregivers, or the community and informs them of the services recommended to their patients.
• Assists in providing support to all the intake staff throughout the system for triage and assessment functions, through on-site, telephonic, or telepsychiatry service. Provides assistance in distributing and in